Editorial

Events: Spring plant sale and festival

With the arrival of spring comes the 18th annual Spring Plant Sale & Festival at Crabtree Farms on Friday, April 6-Sunday, April 8. More than 300 varieties of sustainably grown vegetable, fruit, herb and flower seedlings will be available for purchase, including over 50 varieties of tomatoes. The weekend will include gardening, craft, wellness and food vendors, live music and children’s nature and craft activities. Crabtree Farms will accept all forms of payment. Information: www.crabtreefarms.org/spring-plant-sale

Habitat’s Women Build Breakfast

Tickets are on sale for the 2018 Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga’s Women Build Breakfast. The fundraiser will be held Saturday, April 7, 9 a.m. at The Chattanoogan Hotel. Tickets to the breakfast cost $30 and tables of eight cost $300. The proceeds raised will support the construction of the 2018 Women Build home.

The 2018 Women Build Home will be constructed in Chattanooga’s Southside by women for a working mother and her two sons. Construction of the home is underway and will be completed by the end of May.

Spring in the Park at Sculpture Fields

Sculpture Fields will celebrate Spring in the Park on Saturday, April 7, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. The free event will feature live music, food trucks, a beer tent, a children’s area and the opportunity to watch artists creating their paintings and drawings outdoors. The day will end with the burning of a 30-foot tall wooden structure by artist Andrew Nigh. Sculpture Fields is located off Main Street at 1800 Polk St.

Free symphonic concert

The Mid-South Symphonic Band will perform its spring concert on Sunday, April 8, 3 p.m. at the Volkswagen Conference Center, 8001 Volkswagen Drive. The event will be free and open to the public. The Mid-South Symphonic Band is comprised of 75 volunteer musicians from the greater Chattanooga area who perform under the direction of Jim Souders.

Author Da Chen to speak at Southern Adventist University

New York Times bestselling author Da Chen will speak at Southern Adventist University on Thursday, April 12, 11 a.m. in Iles P.E. Center. Da Chen has written numerous books about his experiences growing up impoverished in China during the Cultural Revolution. A New York Times book review describes his memoir as a story about “suppression, humiliation, vindication and triumph.” When not traveling, Da Chen resides in Los Angeles, where he develops TV shows and film projects and writes fiction. Previous speaking engagements have included the United Nations, the National Association for Social Studies and Google. Da Chen also serves as the cultural adviser for Disney’s Shanghai Disney Resort theme park in China. The free event is open to the public. Information: 423 236-2814.

State of the City

Mayor Andy Berke will present his State of the City address Thursday, April 19, 5:30 p.m. at The Westin Chattanooga, 801 Pine Street.

5K to end human trafficking

Second Life Tennessee’s inaugural Finish for Hope 5K run and one-mile walk will take place Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Riverfront Pavilion, 4301 Amnicola Highway. The 5K will begin at 10 a.m.; the walk will start at 11 a.m. Day-of registration will begin at 9 a.m. Registration costs $35 for the 5K and $15 for the one-mile walk. The event will support Second Life Tennessee’s efforts to end human trafficking in Lower East Tennessee. Register: www.secondlifetn.org/race-page

Chattanooga Market reopening

The Chattanooga Market will reopen for 2018 on April 28 and 29 at the First Tennessee Pavilion. The weekend opener is one of the few times throughout the season that the market will be open on both Saturday (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.-4 p.m.). A typical opening day consists of the season’s first harvest of strawberries, herbs, sunflowers and items for the garden. Visitors will be able to shop at nearly 200 vendor booths featuring artists, crafters, homemade foods and nearby farms with in-season produce, meats and cheeses.

Live music will be featured on the EPB Stage both days. Saturday will feature Sweet Georgia Sound for several sets. On Sunday, Sweet Georgia Sound will give a repeat performance at 12:30 p.m. and Martin Rodriguez will take the EPB Stage at 2 p.m.

CSO fundraiser returns May 12

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will host its 2018 fundraiser, UnCorked, on Saturday, May 12 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Renaissance Park. The event will feature a wine tasting, local cuisine, live music by OGYA World Music Band and a silent auction.